In the underground world, there are plenty of strong men who can fight, and it's not uncommon to find ruthless individuals who would risk their lives for money.
However, someone like Shi Xiaolei, who fights fiercely, creates an impressive visual spectacle, and can guarantee a 100% victory, is quite rare.
Coupled with the fact that he has no background or backing… Ever since Shi Xiaolei left the underground boxing ring, almost every few days someone would come knocking, either with inducements or threats, demanding that he return to the ring to be their cash cow.
"Get out."
If the other party had spoken nicely, Shi Xiaolei would have shown some respect. After all, one doesn't hit a smiling face. But if the other party was maliciously pressuring him, he wouldn't be so polite.
For instance, right now, ignoring the butterfly knife the other party pulled out, Shi Xiaolei extended his large hand and slapped away the weapon in the other's hand.
Following up with a size 45 kick to the gut, the two thugs tumbled out of the shop like rolling gourds.
"Mike, Mike~!"
The one behind was luckier, only getting bumped by his flying companion, and wasn't actually injured. But the one in front, who took a kick to the gut, was barely conscious.
Getting up, seeing his companion about to kick the bucket, the thin, dark-skinned man was both shocked and angry.
Looking at Shi Xiaolei, who stood like an iron tower at the shop entrance, the thin, dark-skinned man shivered in fright and instinctively pulled out the small pistol tucked into his waistband.
With the dark muzzle pointed at Shi Xiaolei, the thin, dark-skinned man demonstrated what it meant to be outwardly fierce but inwardly timid: "Locke~! You bastard, I'm going to kill you~!"
It wasn't the first time he'd been held at gunpoint, and Shi Xiaolei wasn't flustered by the small pistol in the thin, dark-skinned man's hand.
He simply took wide, thick-legged strides, walking forward with a powerful presence, and with a twitch of his lips, forced out his most ferocious smile: "Oh really? Are you sure you're mentally prepared?"
After activating the Barbarian bloodline in the game, not only was his physique greatly enhanced, but his physical condition was also digitized.
No matter where he was hit, he wouldn't die instantly; at most, he'd lose some blood and recover after a period of rest. If the caliber was smaller, bullets might not even penetrate his solid muscles, only deducting one or two points of health at most… It was precisely because of this ability that Shi Xiaolei wasn't afraid of the boxing ring owner's threats and ignored the recruitment of those underworld magnates, withdrawing so decisively.
"No, don't come any closer~!"
Perhaps he had been warned by his companions before coming, knowing that a small pistol wouldn't work on Shi Xiaolei, and thus felt insecure; or perhaps it was the barbaric aura emanating from Shi Xiaolei that caused him immense psychological pressure. The thin, dark-skinned man screamed like a woman who had lost control, his cries like someone who had seen a ghost.
Taking two steps forward, he grabbed the other party's gun-wielding right hand, and with a slight exertion of force, there was a series of crisp cracking sounds, and the thin, dark-skinned man's right hand was completely disfigured.
"Ah~~~~! Damn it, my hand~!" The intense pain made the thin, dark-skinned man's scream rise another notch, and his limp fingers lost strength, no longer able to hold the pistol.
Casually taking the pistol, Shi Xiaolei weighed it in his hand, then looked up at the thin, dark-skinned man rolling on the ground: "The safety wasn't even off. With a brain like yours, you're out here trying to be a thug."
"Damn it, Locke~! You just wait, I'm definitely going to kill you."
"Since that's the case, I can only strike first." Holding the pistol, he took two steps forward, came before the thin, dark-skinned man, placed his left foot on his chest, and then raised the pistol, pointing it at his head: "I don't want you coming back to bother me, so, would you mind dying?"
He never intended to shoot, only to scare the guy. Although he was burly and didn't look like a good person, Shi Xiaolei was, after all, a transmigrator from the Great Heavenly Dynasty. In his previous life, he had never experienced or witnessed something like 'murder in broad daylight.'
It's just that he looked really fierce, and the aura brought by his Barbarian bloodline was too ruthless… Not only did the thin, dark-skinned man wet himself, but two police officers who happened to be patrolling nearby were also thoroughly startled by the vicious aura Shi Xiaolei exuded.
"Hey, hey~! You there~!"
"NYPD~! You, the person in front, put down the gun, raise your hands, and clasp them behind your head~!"
Unaware of the full story, and only seeing the scene before them, they assumed Shi Xiaolei was the assailant. The two stout police officers hid behind their car, raised their pistols, pointed them at Shi Xiaolei ten meters away, and issued a very tense warning.
"Tsk, you're lucky~." The act had to be complete; Shi Xiaolei threw away the pistol while glaring at the thin, dark-skinned man again.
The concentrated deterrence was truly remarkable; with one glare, the thin, dark-skinned man's eyes rolled back in fear.
On the other side, seeing Shi Xiaolei throw away the pistol, the two police officers quickly surrounded him.
"Hey, hey, officers." Being pushed and shoved by the two police officers, Shi Xiaolei felt a little annoyed. However, considering that this was the US, and police had 'emergency response rights,' he didn't resist their restraint but merely verbally protested: "You've got it wrong, these two are the bad guys, I was just defending myself. If you don't believe me, you can check the surveillance, it's right there~."
It is an undeniable fact that people of Asian descent often face discrimination in the US, with a lower status than Black people.
However, whether one encounters injustice also depends on the person and the situation; not all circumstances can be treated the same.
For example, right now, because he was so large and intimidating, not looking like an easy target to bully, Shi Xiaolei's words had some effect and were not completely ignored by these two police officers.
Well, mainly because someone stepped in to intervene.
"Leave the rest to us." A middle-aged man with a receding hairline appeared from nowhere, flashed his ID in front of the two police officers: "Officers, please take these two on the ground away. I can confirm that the facts are as he stated; these two are the real criminal suspects who should bear responsibility."
After verifying the ID and confirming the other party's identity was legitimate, the two police officers put away their pistols and saluted: "Yes, sir."
After pulling the two unconscious thugs into the patrol car, and as the police car drove away, the street once again returned to calm.
Shi Xiaolei's mood, however, was quite the opposite.
Others might not recognize him, but as a transmigrator, how could he not recognize the identity of the man in front of him? A black suit, a shiny forehead, a receding hairline, and a kind yet gentlemanly smile… Throughout the entire Marvel world, only Agent Phil Coulson, known as the 'Newbie Village Chief,' fit this description.
'Isn't that Coulson? Why would he come looking for me?' He carefully recalled his experiences over the past few months, unable to figure out where he had slipped up, and Shi Xiaolei unconsciously fell into deep thought.
"Mr. Locke, may I have a word with you?" After patiently waiting for a while, seeing that Shi Xiaolei hadn't snapped out of his thoughts and some curious passersby were gathering, Coulson had no choice but to speak up and break the silence.
"Oh, oh." Snapping back to reality, Shi Xiaolei looked at the surrounding situation, nodded, and turned to walk into the shop: "Come inside the shop."